homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Overdue book returned 120 years later

A book that has been missing from the Hereford school library in England has been returned - after 120 years.

Mihai Andrei
December 8, 2016 @ 12:50 am

share Share

A book that has been missing from the Hereford school library in England has been returned – after 120 years.

The Hereford cathedral is one of the most impressive in England. Image credits: Wiki Commons.

Professor Arthur Boycott attended Hereford Cathedral School between 1886 and 1894. During that time, he stumbled upon an interesting book – ‘The Microscope and its Revelations,’ by Dr William B Carpenter. Being a scholar himself, Boycott borrowed the book so he could read it, except he forgot to give it back. Presumably it was an accident, as he constantly borrowed books and returned them back.

The book was probably quite useful, as he eventually graduated with first class honours in Natural Science, moving on to become a distinguished naturalist and pathologist. He had a strong passion for nature and constantly wanted to learn more about it, up to the point where he was a dangerous driver because he looked so much at the surrounding flora.

The book found by his wife in a huge, 6,000-book collection. If the Hereford Library would charge fines for every day the book was late, the fine would have been £7,446 – but of course, they’ll waive all fines.

It’s not the first time something like this has happened. Recently, an ancient carving was returned to the same school after 50 years, with an anonymous note saying that it was taken ‘on a dare.’

share Share

What happens in your brain when your mind goes completely blank — neuroscientists say it's a distinct mental state

Mind blanking isn’t daydreaming. It's something more akin to meditation — but not quite the same.

The World's Oldest Known Ant Is A 113-Million-Year-Old Hell Ant with Scythe Jaws

A remarkable find for ant history was made, not in the field but in a drawer.

Your Cells Can Hear You — And It Could Be Important for Fat Cells

Researchers explore the curious relationship between sound and gene expression in cell cultures.

16,000-Year-Old Dog-Like Skeleton Found in France Raises Haunting Questions

Cared for like a companion, or killed like prey?

Japanese Scientists Just Summoned Lightning with a Drone. Here’s Why

The drone is essentially a mobile, customizable, lightning rod.

Tiny Chinese Satellite Sent Hack-Proof Quantum Messages 12,900 Kilometers Through Space. Is a Quantum Internet Around the Corner?

The US and Europe are now racing to catch up to China.

Cats Came Bearing Gods: Religion and Trade Shaped the Rise of the Domestic Cat in Europe

Two groundbreaking studies challenge the old narrative that cats followed early farmers into Europe.

The People of Carthage Weren’t Who We Thought They Were

The Punic people had almost no genetic ties to Phoenicians, even though the latter founded the great city of Carthage.

RFK Jr loves raw milk. Now, he's suspending milk quality tests due to Trump cuts

Imagine pouring a glass of milk for your child and wondering if it’s safe.

A Roman gladiator died fighting a lion in England and his 1,800-year-old skeleton proves it

It's the first-ever evidence of man-lion combat found in the Roman period.